everybody's cafe

What a pleasure it was talking with Chef Eric Rodriguez of Everybody's Cafe at the Great Taste LIVE show. The kitchen at Green Building Supply was really humming as Michael Zador, James Spielmaker, and Anna Shaner were assisting in the prep of several dishes.

Everyone in attendance at the live show sampled nachos, a veggie wrap, bruschetta, and a roasted cauliflower soup. One common denominator of each dish was a simple vinaigrette-four dishes, four different vinaigrettes, and Chef Eric explained and showed how to make each one.

This was part of his presentation on what he terms "real" fusion cooking, which begins with bringing all five tastes-salty, sour, savory, bitter, and sweet into balance, plus considering how the other senses o

f sight, smell, and touch will come into play. Add to that the interplay of the dish with our emotions, thoughts, and spirit, and the result is a "tantric dining experience."